Fernandinho signs for City

Manchester City FC are delighted to announce the signing of Brazilian international Fernandinho from Shakhtar Donetsk.

The 28-year-old has completed a medical and a deal has been agreed with Shakhtar Donetsk for his transfer.

He will wear the number 25 shirt.

Speaking of his move, Fernandinho said:

“This is a change, a challenge and a chance that I have been waiting a long time for. Playing in the Premier League for City is like a dream.

“My ambition here is to win all the titles, the team here is strong, and so is the greatness of the club and the supporters. Professionally this is a spectacular thing. Playing for a huge club in a huge league makes me so happy. I hope I will be able to repay City for what they have done for me.

“I know I will face challenges but I am prepared for them. Every player at a high level faces pressure and must respond and I am ready for that too. I know a lot about City. Ever since they expressed an interest in me, I have been learning more.

I am looking forward to meeting my new colleagues and becoming part of the team. I want to help bring more trophies and more history to Manchester City.

...Fernandinho...

The defensive midfielder brings a wealth of UEFA Champions League experience to Manchester with him. He has appeared in the competition with Shakhtar for the past eight seasons.

A box-to-box player with explosive pace and a taste for spectacular long-range shots, Fernandinho began his career with Atletico Paranaense in his homeland.

Fernandinho first wrote his name in lights in 2003 when he scored the winning goal in the FIFA World Youth Championship final against Andres Iniesta’s Spain.

Three years and 72 club appearances later, he opted to join the stable of Brazilians at eight-time Ukrainian champions Shakhtar, which included former City playmaker Elano Blumer and his ex-Atletico Paranaense teammate Jadson.

His breakout year is considered to be the 2007/08 campaign where his excellent performances and 11 goals earned him the Ukrainian Premier League’s Golden Football award for best player and helped Shakhtar to the championship.

The Londrina-born midfielder was also an integral member of the team when Shakhtar claimed their first piece of continental silverware, the 2009 UEFA Cup.

He weighed in with a number of crucial goals in their run to the final triumph over Werder Bremen in Istanbul, including the winner against Spurs in the Round of 16.

Since that success his stock has continued to rise, thanks to his standout performances in the Champions League, especially in his team’s run to the quarter-finals in 2010-2011.

He may be most familiar to English supporters for his role in Shakhtar’s 2-1 win over Chelsea last season – a game in which he scored the winning goal - one of five that he scored last year.

He made his Brazil debut for the Selecao under Mano Menezes against Germany in 2011 but has yet to be called up by new Brazil boss Luiz Felipe Scolari.

Fernandinho won the most recent of his international caps in February 2012 against Edin Dzeko’s Bosnia.

He will arrive in Manchester looking to add to his impressive collection of medals, which so far includes six Ukrainian titles (2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013), four Ukrainian Cups (2008, 2011, 2012, 2013), three Ukrainian Super Cups (2008, 2010, 2012) and one UEFA Cup (2009).